Guinea: 24 People Killed in Beach Concert Stampede amid End of Ramadan Celebrations

At least 24 people have been killed in a stampede at a beach concert in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. The concert was being held to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The president's office declared a week of national mourning, following the "tragic drama" at a concert by the Guinean rap group Instinct Killers, reported Reuters.

According to a statement from the president's office, the authorities were "shocked by the tragic drama caused by mass movements at a cultural event."

The statement also said that the incident occurred at a beach in the Ratoma neighbourhood of Conakry. It noted some deaths and injuries but did not give a death toll.

"While waiting for the results of an investigation, information from health and security authorities indicate deaths and several injuries," the president's office said late on Tuesday.

Medics took at least 24 bodies, including that of 13 girls, to a hospital morgue at Donka, a hospital official told the AFP news agency.

"For the time being we have 24 bodies at the Donka hospital morgue and dozens of injured were rushed to various Conakry health centres after this deadly stampede," said a police officer.

An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the tragedy. The official in charge of organising such events was suspended.

The stampede, which occurred during celebrations to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in mainly Muslim Guinea, came at a time when health workers are already 'stretched' by an outbreak of Ebola.

According to the World Health Organisation, the deadly tropical virus was first detected in the poor, mineral-rich West African country in February and has since spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing more than 670 people.